in 1990 and all indications
British kept these ethnic
some Communist threats,
population’s level of education.
are that he has voluntarily
groups separate to serve
an independent nation of
By draconian measures, the
relinquished his authority.
their own interests.
Malaysia, including Singapore,
harbor and environment in
was formed in 1963.
general were cleaned up.
Therefore, today, the
As the island grew and
country seems a safe location
prospered as a trade center,
However, the rest of Malaysia
Systematic landfill programs
for foreign investment. Its
it was designated a crown
felt considerable resentment
were also started. Lee’s aim
business- friendly environment
colony of the Empire.
towards the Chinese majority
was to promote Singapore as
evidently influenced wealthy
Singapore had its share
in Singapore. Most of
a banking and business center.
Hong Kong residents to
of colonial trappings, such
Malaysia was Muslim, whereas
From 1965 to the present,
move considerable capital
as British race courses
Singapore was not. Problems
Singapore has pulled itself up
over to Singapore, after
and the Raffles Hotel.
climaxed two years later, when
by the proverbial bootstraps
Singapore was expelled from
to achieve the status of an
invaded the country in late
the Malaysian Federation and
economic power house. It
1941 into early 1942. From
was left to function on its own.
trades actively with other
In 1965, now independent
Pacific Rim countries, the
the Communist Chinese
takeover in 1997.
The Japanese attacked and
History of Singapore
1942-1945, the Japanese
Like the U.S., the country
occupation of Singapore
and responsible for its own
U.S. and Europe. It has
is indeed a “nation of
was brutal to an extreme.
well-being, Singapore truly
reasonably good relations
immigrants.” The British took
Not only scores of British
fit the bill of the “third world
with Malaysia, the nation of 20
over the island in the early
war prisoners perished
hellhole” described in the
million from which it was cast
1800s, officially founding
in camps, but Singapore
London musical. Unlike the
out 40+ years ago. Because
Singapore in 1819.when it
residents (especially the
rest of Malaysia, the country
of the state of the world in
was a virtually uninhabited
overseas Chinese immigrants
had no natural resources,
general, and the fact that
rainforest jungle. Sir Stamford
who had supported Chiang
such as rubber or tin. The
the western tip of Indonesia
Raffles established the site as
Kai Shek) were subject to
Singapore harbor had been
and 200 million Muslims
a trading post of the East India
widespread massacres. The
neglected for decades and
are only 90 miles away,
Company, after negotiations
Sook Ching massacre claimed
was run down and polluted.
Singapore understandably
with the Sultan of Johor. They
thousands of Chinese lives
Truly, much of the island
maintains a defense force.
recruited a host of laborers
and is well documented in a
could be described as a
from mainland China, to help
Singaporean history museum.
mosquito-ridden rainforest.
build a settlement along a
After World War II,
Prime Minister Lee saw that
Summary
In summary, the city state of
potentially great harbor. Later,
Singapore resumed its status
his nation’s sole resource
Singapore is a comfortable
Malaysians and Indians also
as a British colony. It became
was its people. Therefore,
place in which to do business
were recruited. Initially, the
self-governin